Hammers for chimes



Jan. 15 1924.

G. L. 'SMITH HAMMERS FOR CHIMES Filed NOV. 231. 1921 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT. OFFICE.

GEORGE L. SMITH, F FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SMITH CRIMES CLOCK COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

HAMMEBS FOR CHIMES.

Application filed November 23, 1921. Serial Nb. 517,192.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hammers for Chimes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hammers for chimes and the objects thereof are to afford a hammer mechanism for imparting a sharp rebounding action to the hammer head; and to provide the hammer head with a pliant striking member in connection with means of adjustment for alternating the degree of hardness thereof.

These objects of the invention are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hammer mechanism embodying the invention; parts being broken away; and

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same projected from Fig. 1, arts thereof being shown in section.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters. The invention comprises one or more trip hammers, each of which consists of a rockarm 1 which is pivoted in a post 2 and which has rigidly secured thereto a fiat spring shank 3 at the outer end of which is secured the head 4 of the hammer. A frame 5 supported on posts 6 affords support for a series of stops 7 for limiting the movement of the respective shanks of the hammers in one direction. Each stop has a threaded stud 8 that extends through the frame and is held adjustably in position by a correspondin nut 9. Each rock-arm has in connection t erewith a tension spring 10 that is adjustably secured to the base 11, the action of the spring tending to hold the hammer with its shank against its stop.

A chime sounder 12 is positioned in front of each hammer so as to receive the impact from the head of the hammer when actuated, and a rotor 13 having projecting lugs 14 thereon is arranged so as to actuate each hammer by engaging the rear end of its rock-arm.

A particular feature of the invention is the construction of the hammer head and its appurtenances: The rear end of the head 4 has a lug 15 that extends through the shank 3 and is swaged securely in connection therewith. The opposite end of the head has a central bore 16 made therein and an adjusting screw 17 extends through the lug 15 into the bore 16, there being a nut 18 on the screw for looking it in adjusted positions. A collar 19 having an internal flange 20, has threaded relation with the outer end of the head 4 and is adapted to secure over the outer end of the head a cupshaped impact member 21 of leather or other pliant material. Within the bore of the head is positioned a movable plug 22, referably formed of wood and provided with a metallic plate 23 at its inner end. The plug is arranged with its outer end extending into the cup-shaped impact member and is adapted to sustain the same with more or less pressure accordingly as the screw 17 is adjusted. In this manner the impact member may be stretched and sustained with sufiicient force that it will have the required degree of hardness.

In the operation of the invention, the hammers are actuated by their rotors in the customary manner, each being moved upon its pivotal support so that its shank is swung back from its stop. When released from engagement by its rotor the hammer is swung forwardly by the action of its sprin the shank striking against its stop and t e impact member, by the inertia of the head, bein carried forcefully against the chime sounder. Each stop 7 is adjusted in position so that the corresponding hammer is held normally apart from the chime sounder, and therefore, the hammer is caused to rebound upon striking the chime sounder which permits it to vibrate without interference. By varying the positions of the stops the force of the impact of the hammers against the chime sounders may be regulated. Also, by adjusting the plugs in the hammer heads, by manipulating the adjusting screws therefor, the degree of hardness of the impact members may be varied and a corresponding variation in the mellowness of the sound of the chime sounders is obtained.

What I claim is 1. In apparatus of the class described, a hammer head; a spring shank having pivotal support at one end and secured at its other end to said head; a movable plug in the head; an adjusting means for sustaining the plug; a collar secured on the outer end of the head; and a pliant impact member extending over the plug and secured by said collar to the head.

2. In a hammer for striking a chime sounder, a chambered hammer head; a threaded collar having an internal flange, secured upon the outer end of the head; a pliant impact member secured between the malaria In testimony whereof I athx my signa-- ture, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. SMITH. Witnesses:

MATILDA Marmara, WALTER G. BURNS. 

